Color code tabs for mating seat belt ends

ABSTRACT

Color coded tabs are provided for attachment to the fastening elements of seat belt straps. Matching pairs of the straps have a common color for simplifying the process for selection of matching pairs of straps. The tabs may be applied to the fastening elements as by an adhesive, and are advantageously in the form of pointers pointing in the direction where mates the fastening element matched with the fastening element on which a particular tab is arranged.

United States Patent 91 Williams, Jr.

[111 3,768,862 Oct. 30,1973

[ COLOR CODE TABS FOR MATING SEAT BELT ENDS [76] Inventor: Roger E.Williams,Jr., Rt. 2, Box

filnliinsw N 5015 [22] Filed: Feb. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 225,115

52 US. Cl. 297/385 -[51] Int. Cl A621; 35/60 [58] Field of Search297/385, 386, 387, 297/388, 389; 40/2 R, 19.5, 21 C, 316; 280/150 SB[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,823,046 2/1958 Banta297/385 1,373,416 4/1921 Everett 40/316 X 936,896 10/1909 Hitt 1. 40/316X 1,563,371 12/1925 Jones 40/316 X 2,818,168 12/19 57 Tobey et a1 40/316X 2,587,796 3/1952 Whitehouse et a1. 40/21 C 1,127,895 2/1915 Kahn 40/213,293,714 12/1966 Shafer 297/395 Primary Examiner.lames T. McCallAttorney-Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT Color coded tabs are providedfor attachment to the fastening elements of seat belt straps. Matchingpairs of the straps have a common color for simplifying the process forselection of matching pairs of straps. The tabs may be applied to thefastening elements as by an adhesive, and are advantageously in the formof pointers pointing in the direction where mates the fastening elementmatched with the fastening element on which a particular. tab isarranged.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates in general to color coded tabs formating seat belt ends for simplifying the selection of matching strapsof the seat belts, and in particular to such tabs for automotive seatbelts where the chance of confusion is great as to which seat beltstraps are matched to one another.

2. Description of the Prior Art The trend toward seat belts inautomobiles frequently results in confusion as to which straps arematched with one another. The seats can be a maze of as many as tenstraps. As a consequence, many people do not use the belts and shoulderstraps, especially children and elderly persons. Thus, the safetybenefits of the seat belts are lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide means for designating matching pairs of seat belt straps forsimplifying the selection of matching straps and facilitating selectivemating thereof.

This and other objects are achieved according to the present inventionby providing each strap with a tab arranged on the fastening element ofthe strap. These tabs are preferably in the form of pointers arrangedpointing away from a strap receiving portion and toward the interlockingportion, in the direction where mates the fastening element matched withthe fastening element on which a particular tab is arranged. The tabsdesignate matched pairs of seat belt straps by being color coded, eachmatching pair of straps being provided with a different color.

These together with other objects and advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showingan automobile seat having seat belts provided with the color coded tabsaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary group, top plan view showing two pair of seatbelt ends provided with color coded tabs according to the presentinvention, one pair being shown unbuckled and the other pair buckled.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 of the drawings shows aconventional automobile seat 10 provided with a plurality of seat belts12 formed from matched pairs of straps l4. Straps 14 are anchored to theautomobile frame (not shown) in a conventional manner. Each one ofstraps 14 has one of fastening elements l6, 18 provided with a strapreceiving portion mounted on an end 20 thereof; specifically the end notattached to the vehicle frame. Each fastening element l6, 18 has aninterlocking portion adapted for attachment to a complementing fasteningmeans l8, 16 on an associated, or matched strap 14. The construction ofthe fastening elements l6, 18 is conventional, and therefore the detailsthereof are not disclosed herein. Basically element 16 is a buckle andelement 18 a tongue which engages with the buckle.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, tabs 22 are attached tofastening elements l6, 18 for designating matching pairs of straps 14.The use of tabs 22 simplifies the selection of matching straps 14 bybeing color coded. Each matching pair of straps 14 is provided with adifferent color than the other matching pairs of straps 14. Tabs 22 maybe provided with an adhesive backing (not shown), of a type which iswell known, for attachment to fastening elements 16, 18. In this manner,tabs 22 may be easily applied to all types of fastening elements, andwill remain thereon indefinitely. An example of the type of constructionsuitable for tabs 22 is the self-adhesive tabs (not shown) commonly usedon automobile license plates (not shown) for revalidating the plates inlieu of making new plates. These tabs generally come with a backing overthe adhesive which is removed before the tab is applied to a surface.

Advantageously, tabs 22 are in the form of pointers which are arrangedpointing away from the strap receiving portion and toward theinterlocking portion, in the direction where mates the fastening element16, 18 matched with the fastening element l8, [6 on which the particulartab 22 is arranged- One advantage of such configuration for tabs 22 isthat it will help instruct children in learning to use the seat belts12.

Tabs 22 may be made from a luminescent material so 'as to make themeasier to identify in the dark.

Tabs 22 according to the present invention encourage the use of seatbelts 12 by simplifying selection of matching ends 20 of straps 14. Theywill speed up the proper choice of matching ends 20, and result ingreater safety. They can be applied to any seat belt in a, for example,motor vehicle, including those in the rear as well as the front seats.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

a. a plurality of seat belts including matched pairs of straps andassociated fasteners, each strap provided with a fastening elementhaving a strap receiving portion mounted on the strap and aninterlocking portion arranged for selective attachment to acomplementing fastener on a matching strap; and

b. tab means in the form of pointers mounted on the fastening elements,one to each element, and arranged pointing away from the strap receivingportion and toward the interlocking portion, the tabs being color coded,with each fastening element of each matching pair of straps beingprovided with a different color, for simplifying the process ofselecting matching straps and facilitating selective mating thereof.

1. In combination: a. a plurality of seat belts including matched pairsof straps and associated fasteners, each strap provided with a fasteningelement having a strap receiving portion mounted on the strap and aninterlocking portion arranged for selective attachment to acomplementing fastener on a matching strap; and b. tab means in the formof pointers mounted on the fastening elements, one to each element, andarranged pointing away from the strap receiving portion and toward theinterlocking portion, the tabs being color coded, with each fasteningelement of each matching pair of straps being provided with a differentcolor, for simplifying the process of selecting matching straps andfacilitating selective mating thereof.